Windmill



NITED STATES ATENT Erica.

ALEXANDER R. DEMPSTER AND CHARLES E. DEMPSTEE, OF BEATRICE,

NEBRASKA.

WINDMILL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 324,092, dated August11,1885.

Application filed November 10, 1884. (No model.)

have invented certain new and useful Im-,

provements in Vindmills; and we do hereby declare that the following isa full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to that class of solidwheel windmills in whichthe wheel is constructed to swing automatically more or less out of thewind, and to thereby adjust itself to the force of the latter, in orderto maintain an approximately uniform rate of motion of the wheel in avariable wind, and to protect the wheel and the connected parts frominjury.

The object of this invention is to provide simple, inexpensive, andeffective devices in the class of windmills mentioned by which they aremade self-adjusting, are easily and quickly thrown outof action whendesired, and are adapted to operate without unnecessary loss of powerthrough the frictional contact of their parts.

To this end the invention consists of matters hereinafter fully setforth, and defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which represent a windmill embodying thepresent in vention, Figure 1 is a perspective view, the hub only of thewheel being shown, illustrating the parts in their relative positionswhen the wheel is fully facing the wind. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same asit appears when the wheel is outof act-ion, the outwardly-projecting endof the horizontal shaft on which the wheel is mounted being representedas broken off, Fig. 3 is a vertical axial section of a step on which theturn-table is rotat-ably supported. Fig.4. is a side elevation in detailof an inclined support on which the vane rests. Fig. 5 is a sideelevation in detail of the part of the frame of the vane engaged withthe said inclined surface.

As shown in the drawings, the operative parts of the windmill aremounted on a tower formed of four masts, A, having horizontal tie-beamsA to hold the masts rigidly in position, and also to furnish support forthe lower bearing of a hollow rotating shaft, 0, to the upper end ofwhich the turn-table Bis attached. The latter is rigidly securedin ahorizontal posit-i011 to the top of the shaft 0, the lower end of whichrests in and is supported by astep-bearing, O, bolted to the cross-beamsA, and the upper end of which is journaled in a bearing, 0, bolted tothe posts A. The shaft 0 is thus maintained in a vertical position, andis at the same time free to rotate upon its vertical axis.

Upon the top of the turn-table B a horizontal bearing, b, is providedfor the wheelshaft D, the axis of the wheel being located slightly atone side of the vertical axis of the turn-table, so that the pressure ofthe wind upon the, wheel will tend to rotate the latter so as to bringit edgewise to the wind, in a well-known manner. A vertical cylindricalrod or post, E, is rigidly fixed in the turn-table and extends upwardlytherefrom to form a support for a rotating vane, E. The said rod E ispreferably located upon the turntable at a point somewhat in the rear ofits axis and at some distance laterally therefrom, and at a greaterdistance from the axis of the shaft D. The vane E is pivoted to thestake E by bearings e e, which are made to rotate freely and also slidevertically upon said stake. The principal horizontal members E E of thevane-frame are bolted to rearwardly-extended arms c",formed upon thebearings e e, and to these members are secured the necessary parts tomake the vane rigid and to give it a sufficient surface for the wind toact upon. The rotary motion of the vane on its pivot is limited when itis turned to throw the wheel out of the wind by an arm or bracket, 1/,bolted to the turn-table B, and in the opposite direction by a chain orcoupled rods, I), connected with the vane and with the turn-table, asclearly shown in Fig. 2. The vane E is supported from vertical movementby means of an annular casting or sleeve, E, surrounding the lower partof the rod E and resting in contact with the top face of the turntable,the said casting being, as shown, immovably secured to the said red by aset-screw, a. The sleeve E is provided with a cam-shaped upper edge,madeof inclined or spiral form, and its spiral surface is engaged by acorresponding cam-surface formed on the lower end of a downwardlyextended tubular part or sleeve, 6', of the bearing c. The weight of thevane is carried upon these cam-surfaces, so that when the turn-table isforced around to bring the wheel into the wind the vane islifted, andwhen the force is withdrawn the weight of the vane causes the turn-tableto rotate back to its former position, thus throwing the wheel out ofthe wind. Either one of these spiral surfaces may be dispensed with anda frictionroller mounted in suitable bearings attached in its place, andthe same results will thereby be obtained. In the latter case the spiralmay be made with a gradually increasing or decreasing inclination to ahorizontal plane, in order to make it act with more or less force atdifferent parts of its surface to turn the wheel out of the wind. Theconstruction shown is, however, preferred as being more simple and lessliable to get out of order.

By pivoting the vane to the turn-table by means of the post or pivot-rodE, instead of rotatably mounting it 011 said turn-table concentric withthe vertical axis of the latter, the frictional surfaces of thepivot-joint may be made very much smaller in diameter, whereby themachine is made lighter and cheaper and the friction on said surfaces ismaterially reduced. The wheel is rotated to bring itinto the wind, inopposition to thetendency of the weight of the vane acting upon itsinclined support to throw the wheel out of the wind, by means of a chainor cable, G, which is attached to an arm, E, rigidly fastened to thevane and extended forward from its axis, or, in other words, in adirection from said axis approximately opposite to that in which thevane ex tends. From said arm the chain passes around a guide pulley, G,pivoted to the forward part of the turn-table, to give the force exertedthrough it the proper direction to bring the wheel into the wind, thencearound a second guidepulley, G", to clear the crank-disk D, and,finally, overa third guide-pulley, G", to give it a direction downwardthrough the hollow shaft 0. At a convenient height above the ground thechain G is attached by a swivel to a lever, G, which latter is pivotedto any convenient part of the frame-work of the tower, and is drawndownward to actuate the chain and bring the wheel into the wind,preferably by a series of two or more weights, such as H 11 H Theseweights maybe attached in any convenient manner to the end of the chainG, so that they will be successively lifted as the chain rises; but theconstruction shown in the drawings is considered desirable, as it is simple and effective. As shown, two of these weights, H and H, are adjustabl y mounted on levers I and I, which latter are pivoted to swingvcrticallyon a fixed post, I, and are prevented from swinging laterallyby engagement with the slot ii in the fixed brace I". The weights H andH are provided with apertures by which they are hung 011 said levers,and they are adjustably secured to said levers by setscrews, as shown.The weight H is fastened to the outer end of the lever 1 by a shortchain, 71, the two levers are secured to each other by a similar chain,71, and the lever I is connected to the lever G by a rod or link, 2'. Asthe wheel, actuated by the weights, is drawn into the wind the chain Gmoves downward and the weight H first rests on a platform, J, or othersupport; the lever 1 next rests in the bottom of the slot 2"; and,finally, when the chainGis at its lowest position, the lever I restsupon the lever I, and the chain G is thus relieved from all of theseweights. This will, however, only occur in the lightest wind to whichthe wheel is adjusted, as the, tendency of the wind acting on the wheel,assisted by the weight of the vane acting on the inclined surfaces ofthe parts E and e", is to rotate the wheel so as to carry it out of thewind. When the wheel turns from the wind, the weights are liftedsuccessively, whereby the series, as a whole, is adapted to exert aconstantly-increasing force to retard the further progress of the wheelin that direction. The rate ofincrease of said force may be regulated bylengthening or shortening the chains that connect the weights, and theamount of said force may be augmented or diminished by moving theweights H and H toward or away from the pivotal points of the levers onwhich they are hung. The length of the chain G may be so regulated thatone or more of the weights shall always be suspended from the lever G"to act on the chain G and keep the wheel in the wind against a wind ofany given force.

The construction. above described is well adapted to permit the wheel toturn more or less from the wind in proportion to the ve' locity of thelatter, whereby an approximate uniformity of speed of the wheel issecured, andinjury to it or the connected parts thereby prevented.

The wheel may be stoppcd by disconnecting the weights above described,or by lifting the lever G" and fastening it in an elevated position, andthe wheel will turn at once out of the wind and remain inoperative untilthe action of the weights on the chain G is restored.

In the particular construction of the parts of the windmill hereinshown, the post E, on which the vane E is pivoted, is utilized as asupport for two brackets, F F", provided upon their outer ends withhearings in which the plungerrod F is mounted to slide, and theadditional weight and cost of a standard or bracket especially formed onor attached to the turn-table for that purpose is thereby saved. The rodF may be attached by a swivel-joint, in any usual manner, to theapparatus,by means of which the power generated in the windmill isutilized. A pitman, F, is, as herein shown, connected at one end to therod F by a suitable pivot'pin, f, fixed in said rod, and at the otherend engages asuitable crank-pin on the crank-disk D, fixed on thewheel-shaft D, whereby a vertically-reciprocating motion is imparted tothe rod F by the revolution of the wheel 011 its axis. D is the hub orspider to which the arms of the wheel are attached.

Any of the well-known forms of solid wheel or wheels with fixed sails orslats may be used in connection with the devices herein illustrated, andit is therefore unnecessary to further describe the construction of thewheel.

The shaft 0, by which the turntable is supported, is preferably made inthe form of a cylindrical tube of sufficient size and strength to resistthe transverse strains to which it may be subjected, and its lower end,where it en ters the bearing 0, is made smaller than its body, in orderto reduce the area of frictional contact of the partsin bearing. Forthis purpose a reducer, c, in the form of an ordinary reducer, such asis used by gas-fitters to connect pipes of different sizes, is securedby a set-screw, c, or otherwise rigidly attached, to the lower end ofthe shaft 0, and the lower end of this piece a is fitted to rotate inthe step-bearing G. A central aperture is made in the latter for thepassage of the rod F and the chain G, in order that these parts mayremain in substantially the same position when the turn-table rotates onits vertical axis.

We are aware that it has been proposed heretofore to utilize the weightof a wind-vane to hold the wind-wheel into the wind byemploying, tosupport the weight of the vane, an inclined surface so arranged that thevane will tend by its gravity to remain at right angles with the wheel.

The novel construction herein shown as embodying our invention differsfrom that lastabove described in having a vertically-movable vaneresting upon an inclined surface arranged to hold the vane parallel withthe wheel, operating in connection with a weight or weights connectedwith the vane in such manner as to tend to draw the vane into a positionat right angles with the wheel in opposition to the tendency of thegravity of the vane to throw the wheel out of the wind, as set forth inthe appended claims.

\Ne claim as our invention 1. The combination, with a turn table and awind-wheel mounted thereon, of a vane pivoted to said turn-table on avertical axis and constructed to slide vertically upon its pivot, acircular projection or sleeve secured upon the turn-table concentricwith the pivotal axis of the vane, and having an inclined upper surfaceand a depending part upon the vane adapted to rest upon the inclinedsurface of the sleeve, said parts being so constructed that the weightof the vane tends to turn the wheel out of the wind, and a weight orweights applied to draw the vane into position to hold the wheel intothe wind, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a turntable and a wind-wheel mounted thereon,with its axis of rotation at one side of the vertical axis of theturn-table, of a vane pivoted to said turntable on a vertical axis andconstructed to slide vertically upon its pivot, a circular projection orsleeve secured upon the turn-table concentric with the pivotal axis ofthe vane, and having an inclined upper surface, and a depending partupon the vane adapted to rest upon the inclined surface of the sleeve,said parts being so constructed that the weight of the vane tends toturn the wheel out of the wind, and a weight or weights applied to drawthe vane into position to hold the wheel into the wind, substantially asdescribed.

3. The combination, with a turn-table and wind-wheel mounted thereon,with its axis of rotation at one side of the vertical axis of theturn-table, of avertical pivot rod, E, fixed upon the turn-table, asleeve, E located upon the turn-table concentric with the pivot-rod andhaving an inclined upper surface, and a vane, E, pivoted to the rod bybearings constructed to slide upon the latter and provided with adepending tubular projection, 6 having an inclined face engaged with thecorresponding face upon the sleeve, the said inclined faces being soarranged that the weight of the vane tends to turn the wheel out of thewind, and a weight or weights applied to draw the vane into position tohold the wheel into the mud, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

4. The combination, with a turn-table and a wind-wheel mounted thereon,ofa vane pivoted to said turn-table on a vertical axis and constructedto slide vertically upon its pivot, a circular projection or sleevesecured upon the turn-table concentric with the pivotal axis of thevane, having an inclined upper surface, a depending part upon the vaneresting upon the said inclined surface of the sleeve,whereby the weightof the vane will tend to retain the latter parallel with the wind-wheel,a chain connected with the said vane, a weight or weights attached tosaid chain for drawing the vane into position at right angles to thewheel, and suitable guide-pulleys upon the turntable for the said chain,substantially as and for the purpose set forth. I

5. The combination, with a turn-table and a wind-wheel mounted thereon,with its axis of rotation at one side of the vertical axis of the table,of a vane pivoted to said turn-table, a chain connected with said vaneand adapted to move the latter so as to bring the wheelface to the wind,suitable guide-pulleys for the chain upon the turn-table, and a seriesof weights connected with the chain and adapted to come successivelyinto action as the latter is drawn upwardly by the pressure of the windupon the wheel, substantially as and for the purpose set forth;

6. The combination, with a turn-table and wind-wheel mounted thereon,with its axis of rotation at one side of the vertical axis of the table,of a vane pivoted to said turn-table upon a vertical axis andconstructed to slide vertically upon its pivot, a curved projection orsleeve upon the turn-table concentric with the axis of the vane, havingan inclined upper surface, a depending part or projection upon IIO thevane resting upon the said inclined surface, whereby the weight of thevane tends to throw the said vane intoa position parallel with thewheel, and the latter out of the wind, a chain connected with the vaneadapted to move the latter so as to bring the wheel-face to the wind,and a series of weights connected with the chain and adapted to comesuccessively into action as the latter is drawn upwardly by the pressureof the wind upon the wheel, substantially as described.

7. The co1nbination,with a turn-table and a wind-wheelmountedthereon,ofavanemounted upon the turn-table, a chain, G, connectedwith the vane for moving the latter, suitable guide-pulleys for thechain upon the turn-table, one or more levers, as I I, pivoted one aboveanother to a stationary support, the upper lever being connected withthe said chain G, adjustable weights upon the said levers, and a chain,It, joining the levers, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

8. The combination, with a turn-table and a wind wheel mounted thereon,of a vane mounted upon the turn-table, a chain, G, connected with thevane for moving the latter, suitable guide-pulleys upon the turn-tablefor the chain, one or more levers, as I I, pivoted one above the otherto a stationary support, the upper lever being connected with the chainG, adjustable weights upon said levers, a chain, h, joining the levers,and a weight, 11, connected by achain with the lower lever, and astationary support for the said weight H", substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

Intestimony that we claim the foregoing as our invention we afiiX oursignatures in presence of two witnesses.

ALEXANDER R. DEMPSTER. CHARLES B. DEMPSTER.

Witnesses:

R. S. BIBB, ALF. PARKER.

